Hello Darling, Why I'm a Darling Brand Ambassador
Every Darling story you hear, whether shared by women in conversation, on the pages of its vibrant magazine, or at an intimate Darling dinner, have one thing in common—they’re all deeply personal, i.e. from the heart. If it’s not already clear from the hashtags (#thatsdarling #darlingsociety #darlingmovement, which have become almost synonymous with a depth of feeling,) adopted by Darling’s followers and countless Instagram users, I’ll fill you in, as a newly appointed Darling Ambassador myself—there’s something at work at the heart of the Darling brand mission that’s resonating with women. It’s personal, but at the same time, it’s inspiring a movement in fashion, print, and online, and now with Darling’s new first-ever, ready-to-wear clothing, and home goods collections.
What is the message that sets Darling apart? If you ask women, it’s that Darling cares about women. To start, none of the women in the magazine are retouched. For ten years, the magazine has made this vow with founder Sarah Dubbledam at the helm who says, “There’s something very counterculture about what we’re doing.”
Darling’s new clothing capsule collection continues that approach, with mindful design that inspires from the start — when women first look in the mirror to get dressed each day. Every detail has been considered to make you feel good down to the hangtag and inside wash tag that displays the message “Darling, You Are a Work of Art.” For me, sharing that mission as an ambassador feels inspiring, groundbreaking, and incredibly special. Here’s why…
I discovered Darling magazine (Issue 6) somewhere around 2013 in an Anthropologie in NJ, a store I often shopped, sought most of my lifestyle inspiration from, and even worked at one season before moving into my first apartment. My closest family had to move away and a promise of moving in with my best friend fell through. I felt incredibly alone. The cover, emblazoned with the Darling tagline The Art of Being A Woman, and inside, a mix of high-fashion photography, poetry, illustrations of the Darling personas, and thoughtful essays with titles like Be Still; Creativity as A Confession; Sacred Spaces; and The World Awaits; encouraging adventure, creativity, healing and a strong sense of self, couldn’t come at a better time. I hadn’t realized it then but looking back, as the magazine drifted in and out of my life for years it’s been a touchstone for big dreams and positive affirmations.
“I hadn’t realized it then but looking back, as the magazine drifted in and out of my life for years, it’s been a touchstone for big dreams and positive affirmations. ”
The gorgeous tablescape at the Darling 2023 Ambassador Retreat in Los Angeles California.
Darling Ambassador Christina Kutch of Arfullyblog.com with Darling founder, Sarah Dubbledam, Los Angeles, CA.
Darling dinners are known to be intimate gatherings, where women connect over deep and thoughtful conversation prompts provided to break the ice. The 2023 Darling Ambassador Retreat at The Langham Hotel in Pasadena, CA.
Darling Issue 15 came after I moved to Brooklyn from NJ. The cover featured a fashionable model poised under the Grand Army Plaza arch in Brooklyn. The recognizable and historic landmark was just five blocks from my second apartment. I dreamed of living in NYC ever since I started working in fashion in NYC ten years earlier and now I had arrived. To me, Darling’s cover felt symbolic of a dream within reach, familiar, aspirational, yet attainable portraying a woman making a strong display of self. Unknowingly, I had been taking cues from its pages to establish my own brave identity. I left my life in NJ behind for more exciting horizons with acting and dance classes at NYU, nightlife and fashion straight from Sex and the City, the finest restaurants in the world, countless memorable weekends in Prospect Park with my 15-year-old cockapoo, and still more unrealized dreams to come. There was more waiting for me in the big, wide world.
“Unknowingly, I had been taking cues from Darling’s pages to establish my own brave identity. ”
I found Issue 19 after moving to Los Angeles three years later after losing more than one close family member. I came across a Darling event by chance and was delighted at saying hello to the staff and sharing a bit of my story. I left with a copy of the magazine feeling like I had run into an old friend. This time, for some reason, I never opened the magazine, instead keeping it under the protection of the plastic sleeve. It had always felt like a beautiful art book and I wanted to preserve the full-circle memory as a memento of my journey and have it to this day. Still, I purchased others over the years and poured over their pages.
Not long after, I launched my blog Artfully by ChristinaK., the fashion and beauty lifestyle site you’re reading now, dedicated to empowering women through their clothes. I knew it was time to share who I had become and I wanted something that spoke to the creative ways of fashion on a deeper level, more than just trends and beauty tips, to share that same sense of adventure that ignited my journey of self-reflection and self-care after loss, that brought me to California, that I also found in Darling’s pages; a way to express my creativity and story that was my own. I cannot believe how far I’ve come, and with the release of issue 25 of Darling, I find myself having styled my own photoshoots at Huntington Gardens, (shown here and here), the very same spot where Darling shot their newest issue’s fashion editorial, pictured below. Pinch me! It’s like I've arrived. And now, Darling has embraced me with open arms as their ambassador. That’s what I mean when I say on Artfully that fashion is a tool to style our lives. It’s not the sole reason or force that got me where I am today but it was a strong actor in manifesting how I chose to show up in the world. Darling played a big part in showing me that.
Darling’s new clothing and home capsule collections explore and celebrate further the Art of Being a Woman with all the Darling details you’d expect: timeless, reliable, and unexpected, like an encouraging best friend who always seems full of life. One of Darling's most thoughtful details is literally woven into the fabric of their clothes, with hangtags and interior wash tags containing their mission statement that every woman is a work of art. It’s a beautiful sentiment and reminder to start each day. For me, it’s the message I’ve carried with me all these years, that I proudly share with women who need to hear it. I hope you’ll follow along on my Darling journey. Or perhaps, you’ll even start your own. #thatsdarling #darlingmovement
P.S. I’ll be sharing lots from Darling's 20-piece clothing collection and how to build your very own intentional capsule wardrobe plus home decor and some exciting Darling trend drops all summer long! I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the collections might inspire you personally so please share in the comments or reach out for a personal 1-1 styling session with me! See you soon Darlings!
